Read on Twitter
Today I hosted a mentoring panel at #SPSP2021 on how academics can use social media effectively.
I got some great questions and figured I would share the highlights for anyone who wanted to attend but missed it due to other commitments.
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I got some great questions and figured I would share the highlights for anyone who wanted to attend but missed it due to other commitments.
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If you want a deep dive into the topic I helped write this "A social media survival guide for scientists" with @NeilLewisJr @leahsom & @junegruber
At we noted, at least 45,000 scientists around the world are using Twitter and it seems to be growing. http://www.sciencemag.org/careers/2018/11/social-media-survival-guide-scientists
At we noted, at least 45,000 scientists around the world are using Twitter and it seems to be growing. http://www.sciencemag.org/careers/2018/11/social-media-survival-guide-scientists
Social media allows people from across the globe to engage; keep up with new findings, tools, and cutting-edge trends, sometimes months before they appear in print; receive almost immediate feedback on their work; and find new collaborators.
But it also has potential downsides.
But it also has potential downsides.
To maximize the benefits and minimize the potential costs, I strongly recommend you be intentional about WHY you are using social media.
Is it to share your work, build a network, get support, express your views, learn, share pictures of your hamster, or troll your nemesis?
Is it to share your work, build a network, get support, express your views, learn, share pictures of your hamster, or troll your nemesis?
Once you've figured out your goal, then get on the right social media platforms to help you achieve that goal.
For example, if you want a non-academic job or consulting gigs you should set up an account on LinkedIn (in addition to or instead of Twitter).
For example, if you want a non-academic job or consulting gigs you should set up an account on LinkedIn (in addition to or instead of Twitter).
Be mindful of what you share! I'll paraphrase the wise @JkayFlake
who said:
Don't post anything on social media that you wouldn't blast from a microphone on a conference stage. Because just as many people might see it (and potentially far more!)
who said:
Don't post anything on social media that you wouldn't blast from a microphone on a conference stage. Because just as many people might see it (and potentially far more!)
Don't be afraid to share your work!
People might be hesitant to share their work, but understand that many people (like me!) are actively following people precisely because we want to get updates on their work and their ideas.
People might be hesitant to share their work, but understand that many people (like me!) are actively following people precisely because we want to get updates on their work and their ideas.
Be a good curator.
Another way you can build a following is by becoming a great curator of content. I follow some people because they do a fantastic job scouring the literature and finding gems that I would miss. Having experts who share work in their area is a huge service.
Another way you can build a following is by becoming a great curator of content. I follow some people because they do a fantastic job scouring the literature and finding gems that I would miss. Having experts who share work in their area is a huge service.
Be authentic. One person asked if it is: "OK to be positive on social media".
I think so. Negative information goes viral, but you will attract followers who value your perspective. Those who want a more negative take on the field or the news will follow different people.
I think so. Negative information goes viral, but you will attract followers who value your perspective. Those who want a more negative take on the field or the news will follow different people.
Keep your eye on the long term.
I think of social media a little like the marshmallow test. It can generate a lot of clicks if you share a rant, hot take, or share a click-bait title, but that can come with long term costs. Think carefully about your long term goals.
I think of social media a little like the marshmallow test. It can generate a lot of clicks if you share a rant, hot take, or share a click-bait title, but that can come with long term costs. Think carefully about your long term goals.
On a related note, but mindful of your impact on others.
It is easy to dunk on someone, but consider the harm you might be doing to someone if you do. Will it make them feel distress, lose sleep, etc? If so, you can have a negative impact on real people living in the real world.
It is easy to dunk on someone, but consider the harm you might be doing to someone if you do. Will it make them feel distress, lose sleep, etc? If so, you can have a negative impact on real people living in the real world.
Understand your power.
If you have stature in the field or a large following, you effectively have power. People will be watching you more closely and you have the potential to cause greater distress to others. You should be more mindful as you gain power.
If you have stature in the field or a large following, you effectively have power. People will be watching you more closely and you have the potential to cause greater distress to others. You should be more mindful as you gain power.
Your posts have consequences.
In academia, we place a high value on academic freedom. But no one wants to work with a troll or bully. This job is hard enough without having someone in your department or lab group who is callous to others.
In academia, we place a high value on academic freedom. But no one wants to work with a troll or bully. This job is hard enough without having someone in your department or lab group who is callous to others.
The norms are different in business.
The consequences are even bigger in industry. Many companies will scour your social media feeds and unprofessional behavior could be far more costly. Whether this is right or wrong, it's a reality worth knowing.
The consequences are even bigger in industry. Many companies will scour your social media feeds and unprofessional behavior could be far more costly. Whether this is right or wrong, it's a reality worth knowing.
Speaking of consequences, as a faculty member you want to be thinking about how to use social media to help your students.
You can share your students' work and give them credit publicly. You might also want a LinkedIn account to help connect your students with industry jobs.
You can share your students' work and give them credit publicly. You might also want a LinkedIn account to help connect your students with industry jobs.
Think of how you want to navigate your personal and professional lives.
It's OK to make your accounts private or have a public account on one platform (eg, Twitter) and a private account on another platform for your friends and family (eg Facebook or Instagram).
It's OK to make your accounts private or have a public account on one platform (eg, Twitter) and a private account on another platform for your friends and family (eg Facebook or Instagram).
One person asked if they should delete their old posts.
I used to do this to avoid having something taken out of context (which, sadly, happens a lot on social media). But it's ultimately up to you. It probably depends on how you use social media and your career goals.
I used to do this to avoid having something taken out of context (which, sadly, happens a lot on social media). But it's ultimately up to you. It probably depends on how you use social media and your career goals.
Curate your feed.
It can be stressful to unfollow someone (eg. they might be angry). But if you want to limit what you see, you can create *lists* in Twitter for different topics and then follow different subsets of people without seeing too much content.
It can be stressful to unfollow someone (eg. they might be angry). But if you want to limit what you see, you can create *lists* in Twitter for different topics and then follow different subsets of people without seeing too much content.
Manage your time.
It's easy to get sucked into reading social media feeds for hours. But it can distract from other obligations, goals, etc. So turn off notifications, perhaps delete the apps from your phone, or establish social media time. I've done all of these.
It's easy to get sucked into reading social media feeds for hours. But it can distract from other obligations, goals, etc. So turn off notifications, perhaps delete the apps from your phone, or establish social media time. I've done all of these.
Increase your impact.
If you want to share your work, I recommend using an App like Buffer where you can write the message and have it sent from multiple social media platforms at a time of day where many people are online. This significantly increases engagement.
If you want to share your work, I recommend using an App like Buffer where you can write the message and have it sent from multiple social media platforms at a time of day where many people are online. This significantly increases engagement.
Find your people.
To connect with like-minded people, follow or like people in your area, use hashtags so others can find your posts, comment on work you are interested in (in a constructive way). You need to be proactive.
To connect with like-minded people, follow or like people in your area, use hashtags so others can find your posts, comment on work you are interested in (in a constructive way). You need to be proactive.
Think about your audience.
When you start, you might have 100 followers who are largely family and friends. If you stay at it for awhile you might get 1000 followers and these will be scholars you don't know. If you hit 10,000 it might include journalists or the public.
When you start, you might have 100 followers who are largely family and friends. If you stay at it for awhile you might get 1000 followers and these will be scholars you don't know. If you hit 10,000 it might include journalists or the public.
Add evidence and context.
In science we are trained to be nuanced thinkers. You can let this come across in your messages by adding figures and links to articles, and avoiding clickbait or extreme overstatements.
In science we are trained to be nuanced thinkers. You can let this come across in your messages by adding figures and links to articles, and avoiding clickbait or extreme overstatements.
Use the scientific golden rule.
If you are criticizing other's work, try to be generous in your attributions and avoid imbuing them with evil intentions (unless you have good evidence). Aim to critique a strong version of the work. Treat them as you would like to be treated.
If you are criticizing other's work, try to be generous in your attributions and avoid imbuing them with evil intentions (unless you have good evidence). Aim to critique a strong version of the work. Treat them as you would like to be treated.
Learn from your mistakes!
No one is perfect on social media (or in life, for that matter). I am certainly not. I've made mistakes on almost all these pieces of advice. But I do try to learn from my mistakes and use it more effectively & humanely. I hope you do too.
No one is perfect on social media (or in life, for that matter). I am certainly not. I've made mistakes on almost all these pieces of advice. But I do try to learn from my mistakes and use it more effectively & humanely. I hope you do too.
Ignore the trolls.
As @profcikara reminded me: ignore people who are trolling you. I tend to mute people are engaging in bad faith and block people are are engaging in harassment or spewing filth. You are under no obligation to engage people who are trying to make you miserable.
As @profcikara reminded me: ignore people who are trolling you. I tend to mute people are engaging in bad faith and block people are are engaging in harassment or spewing filth. You are under no obligation to engage people who are trying to make you miserable.
